Improvement in processes and apparatus for putting up caustic alkali



. ZSheets-Sheet 1. H. B. HALL & E. HINE. PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR PUTTING UP C ATJS'I'IG ALKALI.

Patented July 24, 1877.

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N. PETERS, PHOTO-LITHOGRAPHER, WASHINGTON, DV (7.

ZSheetsESheetZ. H. B. HALL & E. HINEL PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR PUTTING UPCAUS'I'I'G ALKALI; No. 193,330. V Patented July 24,1877.

FIG.4. FIGL5.

W I'NVENTOR.

N.PE|'ERS. PHOTO-UTHQGRAPHER. WASHINGTON: D c.-

UNITED S'ra'r HENRY B. HALL AND EDWARD HINE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENTIN PROCESSES AND APPARATUS FOR PUTTING UP CAUSTIC ALKALI- Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 193,330., dated July 24, 1877; application filed June 12,1876.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that we, HENRY B. HALL and EDWARD HINE, of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented, made, and applied to use Improvements in Packing Caustic Alkali and that the following is a full, clear, and correct description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, making part of this specification, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, of the machine used by us to carry out our process. Fig. 2 is a front view of the table of the machine, showing the means employed to retain the clamp for the can in position. Fig. 3 is a top view of the table of the machine. Fig. 4 is a View of the clamp for holding the can to be filled in position. 5 is a view of the adjustable shelf or table upon which the can rests.

In the drawing, like parts of the machine are pointed out by the same letters of referen ce.

The nature of the present invention consists in a new and useful process of putting up caustic alkali, and in the construction of machinery by which'the process may be successfully carried out, the object of the invention being to cheapen the putting up of caustic alkali, and

to supply a purer, and, consequently, better,-

article of caustic alkali to the public.

To enable those skilled in the arts to make and use our invention, we will describe our process of putting up caustic alkali, as well as the machine shown in the drawings by which we propose to carry out our invention.

Instead of the mode most frequently resorted to forputting up caustic alkali, by melting and pouring it into vessels suitable to, make it an article of commerce, we take the caustic.

alkali in a granulated or pulverized state, (pulverized or granulated by machinery suitable for such purpose,) and press it by means of either a screw or a lever into an air-tight package prepared to receive it; and, to carry out our process, we make use of a machine of which the following is a description:

A shows a frame for supporting the operative parts of the machine, supported upon the legs B. From the table 0 of the machine rises the standard D, in the projecting part E of which is received the screw F, by which the Fig.

plunger G is lowered and raised. Through the projecting portion H of the standard D is inserted the supporting-block I, in the lower end of which is secured the spindle J of the plunger G. The upper end of the block I is provided with the threaded opening, and with the same the screw F engages, so that as the screw is revolved either to the right or to the left, the block I is raised or lowered, carrying with it the plunger G. I

Within an opening in the table 0 of the machine is received the clamp for receiving the can into which the caustic alkali is to be compressed. This consists of a secondary frame or table, L, provided with an opening of sufficient area to receive-the lower projecting portions mof the divided ring or clamp M formed upon the interior of the plates of metal N secured upon the upper portion of the table L. One of the plates N is permanently attached to the table L, and the other, which is a movable plate, is hinged to the permanent plate upon one side, so that it can be moved out and away from the permanent plate to allow of the introduction of the can to be charged, and then closed around the same closely. When closed, an openingin the same is brought opposite a bolt, 0,moving freely upon the upper surface of one of the side-supporting strips P, and the ring or clamp M is thus held together, and forms, as it were, after the can has been received within it and the movable plate has been closed in position upon the permanently-attached plate, a support and holding device for the can.

From the underside of the table L project the rods Q, supporting a movable table, R, the

-rods Q being so positioned in the table L that the movable table It shall be directly below the opening in the table L, and being provided with screw-threads a portion of their length, over which are passed nuts S, engaging with the threads, and serving to raise or lower the table R. The screw F may be provided with a weighted handle, T, by which it may be turned easily.

The process of putting up the caustic alkali whichds madeof the same-exterior diameter as theinterior diameter of the ring or clamp 'M, is inserted in the clamp by elevating the from contactwith fthe.p1ate of metal N, op'enq ing out the movable plate of metal, and inserting the can in the space between the ring or clamp, its bottom resting-upon thetablelt,

closing the movable plate N upon and around the can, and moving back to its former position the table L, and allowing the bolt 0 tospring into the opening in the movable plate N, and lock and hold the same in position. Theplunger Gr-isthen 'bronghtdown by turning the screw F, which, in turn, engages with and operates the block I, until the requisite quantity of caustic alkali is compressed into the canor vessel. The plunger G is then elevated by re'versinglthe movement of the screw .F, the 'bolt'O is withdrawn from its position Within the opening in the movable plate N, the table Lisdrawn forward, and, the movable plate having been drawn away from the fixed plate,the:can may be removed,.and, a second can having been'inserted in the clamp, the operation described above is repeated.

The clamp ismade sufficiently strong to reenforce the metalot' which the can is composed, andthus enable it to withstand the pressure of the plunger in compressing the caustic alkali supplied to it.

When a can larger than the usual length is to be charged, the table B. may be lowered uponthe rod Q by lowering the nuts S to accommodate it.

The advantages resulting from thus putting up or packing caustic alkali are numerous.

When the alkali is granulated, and in this granular. state is packeddirectlyinto air-tight cans, it contains much less water {than when subjected ,to melting before packing, and .retains the strength it had in its original drum. The pressure to which the granular alkali is subjected reduces it to a compact and homo- ,geneons mass an d.enables themaximum quantity to be introducedintothe packages. Moreover, the labor and expense of melting it are :done awaywith,.w'hich-isaniexpense of considerable amount. The danger to the operator from handling it in the molten state is avoided; and, finally, while compressed into as small a compass as it would occupy if poured, the cost of packing is reduced, and a better article results to the consumers of it.

Having now set forth our invention, we desire ittohe understood that .the pulverizing or granulating of vcaustic'alkali, being well known to the trade, constitutes no part of our invention .nor do we claimanything described in United StatesPatent No. 110,183, dated December .20, 1870; but

What we claim as newis l. The hercinbeforedescribed ,process of putting up caustic alkali, whichconsists in compressing thesame, in'a drygranularcondition, ,into. air-tight packages, substantially as specified, wherebythe alkali will bepractically free from water, and will retain its original strength, as set forth.

- 2. In a machine for compressing caustic alkali intocans, the combination ofithe stationary and movable plates N, and movable table R and table L, withha suitable frame-work, A, for supporting the screw F, block I, and plungerG, con structed an d operatin g substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

HENRY B. JHAL'L. EDWARD HINE.

. In presence of-- .A. SIDNEY DOANE, W. H. HIoKs. 

